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Penn State forms Joint Diversity Awareness Task Force

April 29, 2013

Penn State forms Joint Diversity Awareness Task Force

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State has named a diverse group of students, faculty and administrators to a recently formed Joint Diversity Awareness Task Force, which will work collaboratively to provide recommendations to the University Faculty Senate and Penn State’s administration to increase diversity awareness in the University community.

Penn State President Rodney Erickson and 2012-13 Senate Chair Larry Backer called for the formation of the joint task force following the Jan. 29 Senate meeting, in response to a request made by members of the Student Diversity Awareness Task Force.

The goal of the task force will be to undertake a review of issues related to cultural awareness and to make suggestions and recommendations on curricular and out-of-class climate changes that could enhance the environment for all students at the University.

The joint task force will hold its first meeting in the near future, at which 2013-14 Senate Chair Brent Yarnel and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Rob Pangborn will present its formal charge. The group is expected to meet throughout the summer.

“The incidents of intolerance and lack of respect and understanding in recent months have underscored the need for the University community to engage in discussions at many levels to seek ways to improve the climate for diversity at Penn State,” said Pangborn. “The Joint Diversity Awareness Task Force has the opportunity to make a lasting impact within the general education curriculum and other curricular and co-curricular learning experiences of both current and future students.”

The following students, faculty and administrators will serve on the Joint Diversity Awareness Task Force for 2013-14: